football report 2008 csr

A c a s e S t u d y o f M e e r u t D i s t r i c t i n U t t a r P r a d e s h

Context of the Present Study

Objectives of Present study

Methodology and Research Organization

The revelation of child labour engaged in football stitching activity in Sialkot region of Pakistan and Jullander and Meerut districts of India way back in 1995-96, prompted major stakeholders to incorporate effective mechanisms to work out ways and means to eradicated child labour from football stitching activity. Even after a decade of continuous implementation of World Federation of Sports Goods Industry (WFSGI) code of conduct for eradicating child labour from football stitching activity, several studies point out the presence of child labour in this activity especially in the unorganized home-based units of Jullander and Meerut in India. The guiding market forces of acquiring maximum profits by contractors/ sub-contractors and manufacturers encourages employment of children in spite of the WFSGI code of conduct for its members.

The observations of the studies (Refer Background Studies on Child Labour in Football Stitching Activity- Section II of the present Study) strengthens the viewpoint that the vulnerability of stitchers community, due to prevailing economic and social realities make it virtually impossible to eliminate all cases of child labour from sports industry especially in the labour intensive activity of football stitching even in highly monitored region of Jullander and Batala in Punjab. The condition is much worse in Meerut region which has received limited attention due to its highly unorganized sector as majority of football manufacturing units are home based without the purview of any monitoring mechanism.

As a follow up of the observation of several research studies, news reporting and other media analysis, the present study examines to assess the presence of child labour in the football stitching activity in Meerut district of India. Major objectives of the study are to examine:

?The extent of child labour in the appropriately selected villages and urban areas in Meerut district.

?Socio-economic profile of families whose children are engaged in the football stitching activity.

?Working conditions, income and other health hazards associated with the football stitching activity.

?Identification of possible networks between sub contractors, contractors, sports manufacturers and buyers of match-grade footballs in Meerut district.

The research study is based on examination of previous studies and a field survey conducted during November 2007- January 2008 in appropriately selected villages and urban areas of Meerut city.

The study is based on both secondary data, field observations and primary data collected through a detailed field survey from appropriately selected households, children and other stakeholders. The secondary sources of information include several reports prepared by ILO, National Labour Institute- NOIDA, ICN, Tata Consultancy Services, Global March against Child Labour, BBA and other media reporting. Information was also collected from several national and international websites. A detailed literature review of the periodicals like annual reports, quarterly newsletters and other media publications was conducted. All documented records from various newspapers, journals and websites were scanned minutely. The information was supplemented and validated on the basis of primary information collected during the field visits and field surveys in the sample selected villages.

The primary sources of information in selected villages of Meerut and Jullander were collected through field visits and an intensive field survey, conducted with the help of questionnaires, focused group discussions and field observations. The selection of villages for the field survey and field visit was undertaken appropriately to have proper representative sample. (Refer Table No.1 and Map No.1). The map shows the spatial distribution of villages selected for the in depth survey.

A c a s e S t u d y o f M e e r u t D i s t r i c t i n U t t a r P r a d e s h 1

A total of 79 households were randomly selected for survey in three villages and one urban locality in Meerut district. The villages and urban locality was selected keeping in view the information ascertained from secondary sources indicating prevalence of home-based units for football stitching activities. 69% of the rural households from the sample were having home-based football stitching activity, while only 33% households from urban locality had football stitching activity. Thus a significant proportion of households from the adjacent villages were having home-based football stitching activities as one of the major source of income, which were not monitored by ant SGFI team in Meerut district.

A c a s e S t u d y o f M e e r u t D i s t r i c t i n U t t a r P r a d e s h2

Sample Villages - Meerut

% Households havinge Home Based Football

Stitching Units

73

58

71

33

69

33

0 20 40 60 80

Kamalpur

Buddh Vihar

Dabathua

Siwal Khas ( Town )

All Villages

Urban Areas

Series1

Table No.1Sample Survey Details

Meerut Kamalpur Buddh Vihar Dabathua Siwal Khas ( Town )

33 17 17 12

24 10 12 4

73 58 71 33

5 3 2 1

All Villages Urban A.

79 67 12

50 46 4

63 69 33

11 10 1

Source: Field Survey Data Conducted during Novermber-2007 to January 2008

District Villages Selected

for Field Survey Number of

Households

Surveyed

Home Based

Units/ Stitcher

HH Observed

Contractors/

Sub

Contractors

Surveyed

No %

The respondents covered during the observation field visits and for an in-depth field survey include.· Randomly selected sample households.· Home-based Units having football stitching activity · Children and family members working as football stitchers· Contractors / Sub contractors who deliver raw materials in the home based units. The methods of field survey included field observation, group discussion and filling up of structured questionnaires for different stakeholders. The survey also included an analysis of the family profile of child labourers engaged in football stitching activity. Indicators related to their socio-economic background were considered while collecting the information (Refer Questionnaire-1).

The field visits (for observation and survey) were preceded by an orientation programme imparted to the survey assistants for collecting information from the field. The gender sensitization and child interaction were particularly focused. The data collected through the primary and secondary sources were analyzed


statistically. The results were tested through sample design techniques. Diagrammatic representation of data through pie diagrams and bar graphs have been presented with the help of various measures of central tendency, deviations and other averages. The documentation is supported by photographs and inbox interviews, observation of officials, other stakeholders and target groups.

The match-grade football stitching activity has its roots in Sialkot region of Pakistan. After partitioned in 1947, many of Sialkot's business groups migrated across the border into Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, settling in Jalandhar and Meerut city. (Refer Map No.2).

Meerut Meerut is one of the important industrial towns of the western Uttar Pradesh. It is situated about 85 kms from Delhi. Sports manufacturing units are mainly concentrated in and around Meerut city and adjacent villages. These industries came into existence mainly after partition, when some families belonging to Sialkot (presently in West Pakistan) migrated and settled in and around Meerut city. These families, having sufficient knowledge of manufacturing of sports items, started units to meet the local requirements initially, however now sports equipments are also exported from Meerut. Meerut has one of the largest Muslim populations among the major cities of India (close to 45%). These communities are concentrated in Meerut city and its border villages

Jalandhar Situated about 370 km north-west of New Delhi on National Highway, once popularly known as GT (Grand Trunk) Road between the rivers Ravi and Sutlej, is the city of Jalandhar. Basti Nau in the city, has one of the biggest sports goods markets. Industrial production of sports goods began on a small scale during the late forties. Over the years, the sports goods industry has grown at an impressive rate and of late, Indian sports goods are also exported to different countries. Rough estimates suggest that today Jalandhar has more than one hundred industries and about 20,000 small-scale industries. About 60 per cent of the manufactured sports goods comprise of different kinds of inflatable balls. Besides these, the other sports goods that are largely manufactured are badminton racquets and shuttle cocks, cricket bats and balls, different kinds of gloves and protective equipment.

The sports businessmen started manufacturing sports equipments in registered and unregistered manufacturing units. Some of these units, by virtue of their long experience in the field, have built up a good brand name of their products, thereby getting orders from domestic market as well as from other countries. Major sports products manufactured are, Cricket Bats/ Stumps (wickets)/Balls/ Batting Pads/ Wicket keeping Gloves/ Helmets, boxing Gloves, punching gloves/ bags/ balls, Badminton Racket, Shuttle cock for indoor & outdoor games, Badminton Nets, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Handball , hockey sticks/ balls/ pads/ halmets and tennis ball/ nets/ table. Most of India's sports goods are exported to the United Kingdom, The United States of America, Germany, France and Australia from these two regions. The Indian sports goods industry manufactures 318 items. However, major items that are exported are inflatable balls, hockey sticks and balls, cricket bats and balls and boxing gloves. Major manufacturers and distributors of sports equipments including match-grade footballs are concentrated in these two cities (Refer List of List of Manufacturers and Distributors of Sports Equipment from Jullander and Meerut).

Match-Grade Football Stitching Regions in India

Sports and Football Manufacturing Units


In these sports manufacturing centers, three kinds of establishments are usually found:

i. Big establishments: These are generally geared to exports besides catering to the domestic market. Most of these are registered with regular monitoring systems.

ii. Small establishments: These usually manufacture sports goods for the domestic market. Both the big establishments as well as the small establishments are registered either under the Factories Act, 1948, or under the Shops and Establishment Act of the state of Punjab.

iii. The unregistered units: These are found particularly in the urban pockets of Jalandhar and Meerut. These units are mostly small home-based units which are usually run by the family members, but at times with the help of a couple of hired employees. These units do not have a direct access to market instead they are supplied raw materials through contractors/ sub contractors. It has been seen that many a times when the big establishments - especially exporters - are unable to cope with large orders from their foreign clients, these establishments distribute a share of the production to these small unregistered, home- based units through contractors/ sub contractors. These units do not fall under the purview of regular monitoring from SGFI. Child labour and exploitation of labour are usually found in these unregistered household units, to maximize profits by contractors/ sub contractors and manufacturers.

Types of Football Manufacturing Centers

Big Establishments

Market (Domestic/International)

Registered under Factory Act

No Child Labour

Small Establishments


Registered under Factory Act

No Child Labour

Household Units


Not Registered under Factory Act

No monitoring undertaken by SGFI

Child Labour

Unhygienic & poor working conditions

Background Studies on Child Labour in Football Stitching Activity:

The revelation of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and several international newspapers in 1995- 1996, that many of the world's match-grade footballs were being produced by children in the football manufacturing center of Sialkot in Pakistan, created, furore among sports loving people, especially just before the commencement of 1996 European Football championship. An International Labour Organization (ILO) study in the Sialkot region of Pakistan in 1996 estimated that more than 7,000 Pakistani children between the ages of 5-14 years were stitching footballs on a regular, fulltime basis. The establishment of engagement of children in producing match-grade footballs forced the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA), World Federation of Sports Goods Industry (WFSGI), the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other leading football manufacturers such as Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Mitre (UK) and other leading manufacturers to adopt effective measures to stop using children to stitch the match-grade footballs in Sialkot region of Pakistan, in order to save their brand image.

BBC and Other Newspaper Reporting- 1995-96


Christian Aid and SACCS Study Report- 1997

Follow-up Efforts by FIFA and SGFI

Christian Aid (UK based NGO) in collaboration with the South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude (SACCS) in their report in 1997, revealed that children in large numbers were also engaged in sports goods industry in India. A report released by SACCS In 1998 “A Sporting Chance: Tackling Child Labor in India's Sports Goods Industry” on the eve of 1998 Football World Cup, estimated 25,000 to 30,000 children were engaged in Jallunder-Batala region of Punjab and Meerut region of Uttar Pradesh, the two major

1manufacturing centers of match-grade footballs in India . The reports were contested by the Sports Manufacturers Associations in India. However these reports had devastating consequences as major buyers like Adidas, Mitre and Umbro started questioning and seeking assurances from the major football manufacturers of India that child labour is not used for the manufacturing of footballs. A leading buyer company PUMA even took their business out of India in order to save their brand image.

The SACCS and Christian Aid reports prompted manufacturers to initiate several measures to salvage the image of the sports manufacturers in the eyes of FIFA, WFSGI and other branded international buyers of match-grade footballs. The measures adopted were:

?Commissioning of independent research study on the prevalence of child labour in sports industry. The research was commissioned by the Federation of Industrial Commerce and Chambers of India (FICCI a leading business partners in India). The research was conducted by the reputed researchers of Government of India, V.V. Giri, National Labour Institute in Jullender region of Punjab. Their research report, 'Child labour in the sports goods industry; Jalandhar, A Case Study', was published in

2September 1998 . The report established the presence of about 10,000 children below 14 years of age in the stitching of footballs in the district of Jullendar in Punjab state of India. It revealed that around 1,350 children were engaged as full time labourers, while the rest were engaged as part time along with schooling for the stitching of footballs. Other producing areas like Meerut in Uttar Pradesh were not included in the study. The report also provided a wealth of information on the wages, health situation and other socio-economic conditions of the community engaged for football stitching.

?Formation of Sports Goods Foundation of India (SGFI) in 1998. Initially SGFI was conglomeration of 25 sports goods exporters which has now increased to 32 members. The SGFI was supported by FIFA from Ist January 2000 for initiating social protection and monitoring programme to oversee the activities of football manufacturing units and condition of stitchers in India. The monitoring programme was prepared in consultation with the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development (CRRID-Chandigarh), WFSGI, Save the Children and UNICEF. It involved Swiss firm called Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) to monitor the manufacturing units. As per the guidelines contractors were supposed to list details of football stitchers -name, age, location-of the home-based stitchers hired by them etc;. SGS then cross-checks the locations and details of stitchers made available by the manufacturers by making inspections and sudden home visits. SGFI members contribute 0.25% of their earnings from football exports every month for social protection and monitoring programmes. Under the social protection programme, the SGFI · has also adopted four "transitional" schools set up under the National Child Labour Project to help working children enter the school system.

3?The manufacturer of footballs was entered into an agreement for adoption of WFSGI code of conduct .

The code of conduct includes;· No person shall be employed at an age younger than 15 (or 14 where the law of the country of

manufacture allows) or younger than the age for completing compulsory education in the country of manufacture where such age is higher than 15.

1. Christian Aid, A sporting chance - Tackling child labour in India's sports goods industry, May 1997, page 3.2. V. V. Giri National Labour Institute, Child labour in the sports goods industry: Jalandhar, A Case Study, Noida, September 1998. This survey was jointly supported by FICCI and ILO-IPEC.3. WFSGI Code of Conduct – Guiding Principles, http://www.wfsgi.org/_wfsgi/new_site/about_us/codes/code.pdf.


· On the issues of monitoring and verification, the code notes that: Members are encouraged to establish their own internal management systems to monitor the standards outlined in their own code of conduct and to implement action plans for continuous improvements in factory working conditions in their own operations and those who supply them. Members are also encouraged to have factories monitored by appropriately qualified external third party organizations.

The India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN) presented a report in June 2000 entitled “The Dark Side of 4Football: Child and adult labour in India's football industry and the role of FIFA ”. The report highlighted

the pathetic conditions of child labour in sports industry in Punjab in spite of the efforts undertaken by SGFI. The summary of the report shows that many children are still working in and around the cities of Jalandhar and Batala in Punjab. It indicated that wages are often still far below the official minimum wage of Rs. 82 (2US$) per day, and that women earn on an average Rs. 4 or 5 less than men for stitching per ball. This report also criticizes the present FIFA-sponsored monitoring system implemented by SGFI. The report concluded that the contractual agreements between the ISL (the licensing organization of FIFA) and all licensed football importing companies, who buy their footballs, are violated on the issues of (hiding) child labour, wages below the official minimum rates, misuse of advances paid to workers, obstacles to the right to organize for seeking appropriate wages, exemption from existing labour

5legislation and lacking health standards and sanitary facilities .

The Global March against Child Labour Reports – 2002 entitled “Football Dreams Stitched with Children's Hands: India, China and Pakistan still Harbour Child Labourers and Unfair Labour Conditions”

6were released to the press, just before the commencement of the Football World Cup 2002 . The report created ripples among the football sports lovers and questioned the efforts of FIFA, WFSGI, ICFTU and ILO in eliminating child labour from football stitching activities. Several football manufacturers and buyers were put on back foot with the revelations.

The reports revealed that the efforts to improve labour conditions through the monitoring and rehabilitation programs of FIFA, UNICEF, ILO and the SGFI have thus far yielded only limited results, particularly in India and Pakistan, the key centers for football stitching. The hands of children are still employed to stitch footballs, even at the price of their education and often their health. Adult football stitchers are still receiving less than the minimum wage, even though the footballs they stitch are sold at higher price. Women still face discrimination in wages, often earning five rupees less than men. The report indicated lack of freedom for collective bargaining by the stitchers to seek better wages and working conditions. The report on Pakistan revealed that child labor was involved in the stitching of Coca Cola and Adidas footballs both of which were major sponsors of the FIFA 2002 World Cup, in the peripheral areas of Sialkot region of Pakistan, contrary to the claims that Sialkot sport industry has been freed from child labour after strict monitoring by FIFA and other leading football manufacturers.

India Committee of Netherlands (ICN) Report - 2000

Global March against Child Labour Report, May 2002

4. India Committee of the Netherlands – June 2000, “The dark side of football: Child and adult labour in India's football industry and the role of FIFA. http://www.antenna.nl/liw/iv.html5. Ibid. 6. Global March against Child Labour, May 2003 “Football dreams stitched with children's hands: India, China and Pakistan Still Harbour Child Labourers and Unfair Labour Conditions”.7. Tata Consultancy Services, Social Sector Group, May 2002 ,"Child Labour and Labour Rights in the Sporting Goods Industry: A Case for Corporate Social Responsibility"


Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Report- Social Sector Group – May 2002

BBA STUDY 2006 on Child Labour in Sports Industry in Meerut , Uttar Pradesh

Tehalka Report

International Committee of the Neitherlands (ICN) contracted the services of the Social Sector Group, TCS to do an objective assessment of the ground realities as a follow up of ICN -2000 study. The TCS study entitled "Child Labour and Labour Rights in the Sporting Goods Industry: A Case for Corporate Social Responsibility" was aimed to (re)examine the issue/problem of child labour and other labour standards in

7the football industry in India .Major findings from the study reiterated the presence of child labour in football stitching activity even in Jullandar and Batala areas of Punjab, in spite of tall claims of FIFA supported SGFI monitoring mechanism. Wage disparity between workers in registered and non-registered units was huge. Gender variation in wages in the home-based units was also observed by the study.

The exposure of child labour engaged in sports industry of Meerut city and its surrounding regions was highlighted by the an Indian NGO, Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA, Save Childhood Campaign) for the first time on the eve of FIFA World Cup 2006.

Kailash Satyarthi, Chairperson of BBA stated that “big branded companies outsource work to small contractors, who take unfair advantage of the poor in villages and small towns like those around Meerut, who then employ little children to churn out footballs at the cost of their health and education. Children as young as six are employed in the football-manufacturing industry right across Meerut city and adjacent villages. On the eve of FIFA World Cup 2006, the Children working as football stitchers in factories and home based units in Meerut district, sent a memorandum to Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and other football associations requesting sports goods companies, “to ensure that no child was employed in the football-making industry. They have also appealed to these bodies to make sure that former working children are properly rehabilitated. We wish that football becomes an instrument of pleasure, harmony and unity for all in the world. However, we appeal that this should not happen at the cost of our childhood, education and development.

Shalini Singh of Tehalka Journal published a comprehensive report entitled “No Free Kicks in Meerut” in July 2006 on the child labour engaged in football stitching activities in Meerut district. The report sums up the condition of stitchers of football communities as follows:


““The cost of the beer bottle that three friends can knock back watching a World Cup match at a South Delhi pub, is what Ishwari's family of 17 makes in a month — just around Rs 1,000 (US$25) stitching footballs in Kherkhi village near Meerut. Waking up early to deal with the household chores, the women and older children of the family settle down, after the men go out to work, to an arduous seven-hour routine. Ishwari, who is in her sixties, says the men don't mind their women doing this work since it doesn't involve their leaving the house except to bring raw materials and deliver the finished goods. The family's one financial buffer is its small plot of agricultural land — most others in the football-stitching trade in the 50-odd villages around Meerut have no such additional sources of income.”

Football Stitching Activity: Working Environment and Process Football stitching activity is usually home based activity, where all family members work together in home-based units usually located in the home of the family members. Since the family has few rooms even for their requirements, the work place is adjusted within the living rooms. Majority of the rooms are too small and the presence of working table for the stitching further makes it congested. Rooms are usually made of mud structure and light in the rooms are inappropriate for stitching activity. In the absence of electricity the activity of stitching is undertaken in dark and dingy rooms which affect eyes. All family members sit in the congested room together and continue the work activity for 8 to 10 hours per day during the peak seasons. A sample of day and night activity of women and children is given below.

Day & Night Activity of Women & Children Engaged in Foot Stitching Activity

WOMEN

3

2

1

3

8

1

6

Cooking Cleaning Other Domestic Course Child Rearing Stitching Rest Sleeping

Working Children

2

7

34

8

Helping Domestic Cource Football Stitching Playing Rest/no activity Sleeeping


School Going & Working Children

1

3

3

4

6

7

Helping Domestic Cource Football Stitching Playing Rest/no activity School Going Sleeping

Process of Football MakingRaw materials like thread, wax, cut leather pieces and design of football is provided by the contractor/ sub contractor to the households. Leather pieces are cut in the main manufacturing unit with the help of machines. Home based activity for completing the football is

· Waxing Thread

· Wax for hardening the thread

· Stitching the individual leather/ synthetic panels as per design

· Stitching half balls ( Locally called as Khokha )

· Joining two halves of a ball and inserting rubber tube

· Stitching blind parts of the ball. ( It requires careful puncturing the holes , so that rubber tube is not punctured )

The process observed indicated that children (6+ years) and women are regularly hunched over a wooden apparatus for hour's together, darting needles in and out of the colourful pentagonal pieces of rubberized/ leather/ synthetic material. In this process of inserting needles nimble fingers of children are usually punctured from sharp needles. Fingers have cuts from the waxed silk thread that is used to suture the material. The whole process is undertaken in unhygienic conditions, where the light is dim. Thus there is inevitable damage to the sight, brought on by the long hours of arduous squinting.


Magnitude of Child Labour in Football Stitching Activity in MeerutThe survey results point out the prevalence of child labour in football stitching activities in the selected sample households. 9% of boys and 18% of girls aged 6-17 years were pursuing full time football stitching activity. A significant proportion of boys and girls ( 43% and 57% respectively were engaged in both football stitching as well as school going activity. However the results also indicated that 84% boys and 67% girls were attending schools, which seems to be comparatively better situation. The role BBA activists who have started Bal Mitra Gaon ( Child Friendly Village ) campaign seems to have worked as even among Muslim households the trend of sending children to schools has increased. However gender gap in school enrolments still persists as proportion of girl school going children were lesser compared to boys. ( Refer Table No. and Graphs )

Children Aged 6-17 Years among Sample Households

Process of Football Makingundertaken at home based units

Waxing of Thread

Hardening of Thread

Stitching the individual

leather

Stitching half balls

Joining two halves of a ball and inserting rubber tube

Mostly byWomen & Childre

Mostly byAdult Men &

Women

Mostly byChildren

& Women

Mostly byChildren

& WomenMostly by

Adults Men & Women

0 20 40 60 80 100

Kamalpur

Budd Vihar

Dabathua

Siwal Khas

All

44

52

48

21

43

86

86

65

86

84

9

9

9

7

9

Boys

% Only Working

% School Going

% Both working and school Going


0 20 40 60 80

Kamalpur

Budd Vihar

Dabathua

Siwal Khas

All

57

62

61

38

57

68

63

65

71

67

23

17

17

8

18

Girls

% Only Working

% School Going


Village

Children in

6-17 Age

Group

% Both

working

and school

Going

% School

Going

% Only

Working

Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls

Kamalpur 43 44 44 57 86 68 9 23

Budd

Vihar

21 24 52 62 86 63 9 17

Dabathua 21

23

48

61

81

65

9

17

Siwal

Khas 14

13

21

38

86

71

7

8

ALL

99

104

43

57

84

67

9

18

Table

Source: Field survey data collected from sample households

Football Stitchers ProfileTraditionally and culturally football stitching is being done by Muslims and landless backward and scheduled caste labourers (called as dalits). Workers for the football stitching activity usually belong to economically poor sections among Muslim population and particular scheduled caste community among

8. the Hindu and Sikh faiths Majority of these workers are landless depending solely on labour activity. It is difficult to get labour assignment throughout the year in the agricultural and construction sector, hence these people have to depend on other activities. The sports businessmen exploit these conditions and engage their family for football stitching at wages lower than the stipulated rates.

8. The prevailing cultural and traditional beliefs among the Hindus do not allow people to touch leather items, hence Muslim and Scheduled caste community are usually engaged for football stitching activity.


These labourer have no bargaining power as they have no other work for sustaining their livelihood, so whatever work at whatever wages fixed by the contractors are acceptable to them. Wages are paid per piece basis, hence the whole family including children work together for stitching footballs in order to stitch as many footballs as possible.

The demand for footballs during World Cup/ Continental football cup or any other tournament increase sharply. The registered units are unable to meet the demand from the registered units, which usually is monitored by the SGFI. Hence contractors/sub contractors are always on the look out to identify vulnerable families to undertake the football stitching activity to bridge the demand and supply gap for the footballs. The contractors/ sub contractors provide raw materials to the families for completing the stitching of the footballs in family units. The demand sometimes goes as high as making 20,000 to 25000 footballs per day. Even in this rare, bumper event, the wage per unit is hiked by a mere 50 paise. With no union, bargaining power or alternate means of sustenance, the villagers accept whatever wages are paid. If they refuse to work at the going rate, someone else will readily agree to do so for less — this way, at least, they're earning “something

An analysis of occupation wise proportion of households having home-based football stitching activity testifies that the activity is more prevalent among landless labourers, followed by households having small trade activities. The football stitching units were fewer among farming and service households. Thus the results suggest close relationship between households have no land and pure dependence on labour activity with the prevalence of football stitching units. The percent of girl children engaged in football stitching activity was much higher among labourers and small traders as compared to farming and service community. As expected all children from farming and service community were attending schools. Gender gap in sending children to schools was exceptionally high among labourers. Thus the study points out vulnerability of labourers and small traders for engaging children in the football stitching activity. (Refer Table No. and Graph No. )

Table

Occupational Groups and Magnitude of Children in Football Stitching in Meerut

Occupational Classification and Child Labour in Football Stitching

Occupation %Hous

eholds

having

Football

Stitching Activity

Children in

6-18 Age

Both

working

and school

Going

School

Going

Only Working

Boys

Girls

Boys

Girls

Boys

Girls

Boys

Girls

Farming

33

4

6

50

100

100

Labour

84

37

39

68

74

84

26

16

31

Small

trade

61

41

43

44

53

78

81

7

16

service

22

17

16

19

100

100 ALL 63 99 104 43 57 84 67 9 19


Income Classification and Child Labour in football StitchingAn analysis of income of households and presence of home-based football stitching units in the households depicts close relationship as majority of households having less than Rs 3000 income per month had football stitching units. Households having less than Rs 1000 income per month engaged all children for fulltime work for football stitching activity. Similarly households with less income had lesser proportion of children enrolled in schools, thus increasing their vulnerability for employing them in full time football stitching. ( Refer Table No. and graph No )

Boys

0 20 40 60 80 100

Farming

Labour

Small Trade

Service

All

68

44

43

100

84

78

100

84

16

7

% Only Working

% School Going


9

0 20 40 60 80 100

Farming

Labour

Small Trade

Service

All

50

74

53

19

57

100

81

100

67

31

% Only Working

% School Going


19

16

26

Girls


Table

Income Levels of Households and Child Labour Magnitude in Meerut

Income

Group %House

holds

having

Football

Stitching Activity

Children in

6-18 Age Both

working

and school

Going

School

Going Only Working

Boys

Girls Boys

Girls Boys Girls

Boys

Girls

Less than

1000

100 4 5 100 100

1000 -2000

100 25 27 36 44 76 44 12 30

2001 -3000

91 30 31 57 68 87 58 7 16

3001 -4000

26 27 26 56 69 96 85

Above

4000

9

13

15

15

40

100

100

ALL

63

99

104

43

57

84

67

9

18

Even after a full day's work the children can only produce a maximum of two footballs and earn at best Rs. 3-5 per football, which is 40 times less than its retail price. They are paid a pittance for their labour” Entire families, including minor children, are often involved in stitching footballs. Six to seven members of a family work long hours to produce around 10 balls; they barely manage to earn Rs 30-40 a day. If a stitch comes undone, the contractors deduct the repair cost from the labourers' wages. In case of severe damage, such as a punctured bladder, the entire cost is recovered from the makers.

The World Cup season or any other tournament forces children to be taken out of school; the increased demand has necessitated their being kept home to stitch the balls that will fetch their families an additional income. Murid Khan says that there is only one primary school in the village. Private schools charge, at a minimum cost of Rs 500 per child each month, inclusive of fees and stationary which is unaffordable. With more than three children per average household, providing for their education is hard. Work is the one viable option many families see for their kids. Eight-year-old Sunita, who helps her mother, sister and brother stitch footballs, says she was enrolled in Class 3 but was unable to attend school due to constant pressure from parents to help them in football stitching.

Most of the football stitchers are under-paid. The pay depends of the contractor or their skills, however, the study shows that about half of the stitchers in India are living below the poverty line. About 90% of the households belong to the 'untouchables' (scheduled castes in India) or Dalits and marginalized Muslim community.

The observations of the above studies strengthens the viewpoint that the vulnerability of stitchers community due to prevailing economic and social realities make it virtually impossible to eliminate all cases of child labour from sports industry especially in the labour intensive activity of football stitching. The guiding market forces of acquiring maximum profits by contractors/ sub-contractors and manufacturers encourages employment of children in spite of the WFSGI code of conduct for its members.


Health Hazards among football stitchersThe survey conducted also highlighted stitching as major health hazard as children were found with cuts on their fingers that had become septic. Since their earnings are per item produced, the children try to stitch as fast as they can with no fixed hours. They have to sit for long hours in a hunched position that often causes them to suffer severe backache. Inadequate lighting in the work place had ruined the eyesight. Many of them suffer from loss of eyesight, chronic back and neck pains, cuts on their fingers and even deformation of their fingers. For younger children, these conditions can last for their lifetime since proper treatment is usually not given. Due to high morbidity, some respondents stated that they had to leave the football stitching job for some months to regain their health. There is no public healthcare system and workers have to depend on private medical care from the Meerut city, which is expensive and beyond their reach.

"I have been stitching footballs for as long as I can remember," confided Geeta, a young girl from Kamalpur village, who estimated her age to be between 10 and 12 years old. "My hands are constantly in pain. It feels like they are burning.

Table Health and Morbidity among Football Stitchers in Meerut

To make matters worse, there is no public health care system.

Nature of Health Problems

Percent Adult Respondents

Percent Children Respondents

Average Number Hours devoted for Football stitching per day.

4-5 Hours

5-6 Hours

6-7 Hours

Above 7 Hours

21

35

24

30

35

20

25

20

Observed finger cuts

10

35

Suffering from continuous backache

45

35

Tiring of Eyes

65

39

Pain in hands and fingers

85

79

Feeling allover pain

35

26


Identification of Network of Contractors, Manufacturer and BuyersThe situation is compounded by the fact that the workers are only in touch with the contractor, who is the middleman. They have little idea about who owns the final product, or the destination of the footballs that they stitch. Moreover, since there is no written agreement, the child laborers/ adult labourer do not get any benefits laid down in the law. These home-based units are never monitored by the SGFI.


List of Football Suppliers – Meerut

Sahni SportsAddress: 632/2, Jagriti Vihar, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - 250 004, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(121)-4003164/2603708 Fax: +(91)-(121)-4006149Website: http://www.sahnisports.com

New Jandial and CompanyAddress: A-5, Sports Complex, Delhi Road, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - 250 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(121)-2530414Website: http://www.indiamart.com/newjandial

Garg Sports InternationalChaitanya Puram, Near Indira Gate, Navchandi, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - 250 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(121)-2700237/3298723Website: http://www.indiamart.com/gargsports

Greenland Enterprises72-73 Rajvansh Vihar, Sarai Kazi Village Road, Garh Road, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - 250 003, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(121)-3258922 Fax: +(91)-(121)-2763465Website: http://www.indiamart.com/greenland

Competent Sales24. Chippi Tank Begum Bridge Road, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - 250 001, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(121)-2643236

Hans Rubber And Sports Ltd.Address: Guru Nanak Nagar, Delhi Road, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - 250 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(121)-2513677/2510077/2511247 Fax: +(91)-(121)-2510827Website: http://www.indiamart.com/company/400546/

Jay Export HouseAddress: 53/8, Shastri Nagar, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - 250 004, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(121)-2772202/4000832 Fax: +(91)-(121)-2772202Website: http://www.indiamart.com/jayexports

Stag InternationalAddress: A-19/20, Udyog Puram, Partapur, Delhi Road, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - 250 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(121)-2440976/2440993/2441035 Fax: +(91)-(121)-2441009/2660095Website: http://www.staginternational.net/


Maxwel ExportersAddress: B-5, Sports Compex, Delhi Road, P.O. Box - 366, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - 250 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(121)-2510459/2520854 Fax: +(91)-(121)-2511783Website: http://www.maxwelexporter.com/soccer-training-aids.html

National SportsAddress: B- 1 Sports Complex, Delhi Road, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh - 250 001, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(121)-2512148/2400574 Fax: +(91)-(121)-2512275Website: http://www.national-sport.com/

Behari Lal And CompanyAddress: 66, Basti Nau, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2252590 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2258370Website: http://www.indiamart.com/belco

Sports Syndicate, JalandharAddress: Basti Road, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 001, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2650347/2650716/2650795/309099 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2651412/5081709Website: http://india.sportgoodsindia.com/

Sports SyndicateAddress: Basti Road, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 001, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2650347/2650716/2650795/3090992/320200 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2651412/5081709Website: http://www.indiamart.com/sports-syndicate

Khorana Sports IndustriesAddress: Basti Nau, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2255559Website: http://www.indiamart.com/khoranasports

Golden Sports and GamesAddress: W. X. -53, Basti Nau, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2253293 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2209969Website: http://www.indiamart.com/goldensports-games

List of Football Suppliers- Jalandhar


Ceela InternationalAddress: Ceela Complex, B-11, Sports and Surgical Complex,Kapurthala Road, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 021, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2651243/2650806/2650250 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2650053Website: http://www.indiamart.com/ceela

Goodwin Sports, JalandharAddress: 15-16, Dilbagh Nagar Extension, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2203304/2209307 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2250665Website: http://www.sportsgoodsexportersindia.com/

Em Cee Cee Sports Agencies Pvt. Ltd.Address: Jonex House, Sodal Road, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 004, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-5065134/5065130 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2293743Website: http://www.jonexsports.com/

Union Sports InternationalAddress: New Rasila Nagar, Basti Danishmandan, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-9876085819Website: http://www.indiamart.com/unionsports

Soccer International Ltd.Address: Basti Sheikh Road, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2254118/2250416/5095904/5091806 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2252398/5085329Website: http://www.indiamart.com/soccerinternational/

Crimson InternationalAddress: C-90, Sports and Surgical Complex, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 001, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2651020/6541020 Fax: +(91)-(181)-5013915Website: http://www.indiamart.com/crimsonint

Big Boss Exim CompanyAddress: Amar Nagar,Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 701, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(98)-72329842Website: http://www.indiamart.com/company/716730/

Rugby Exports IndiaAddress: G. T. Road, Bye Pass, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 004, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2294008 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2294010Website: http://www.indiamart.com/company/625192/

Bhami International Address: Khurla Kingra, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 013, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2685321 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2685321Website: http://www.indiamart.com/company/871203/


Anand Gymnastic WorksAddress: Basti Nau, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 001, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2202944Website: http://www.indiamart.com/company/764124/

Ishar Dass Mahajan and SonsAddress: 1/1, Basti Nau, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2255198/2255328 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2255030Website: http://www.indiamart.com/company/441970/

Beat All SportsAddress: S/114-115 Industrial Area, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 004, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2290075/2295184 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2291046Website: http://www.indiamart.com/company/378211/

Gomti AgricoAddress: Near Jalandhar Model School, Tanda Road, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 004, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2291116/2283116 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2291116Website: http://www.indiamart.com/company/926575/

Avran ExportsAddress: 17, Shakti Nagar, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-5075244 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2404050

Amar Nath Mahajan & SonsAddress: S-128, Industrial Area, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 004, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-5089097 Fax: +(91)-(181)-5058860

Bhaizada & SonAddress: S. 6, Industrial Area, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 004, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-291841/293123 Fax: +(91)-(181)-290749

Kamal Brothers JalandharAddress: 18, B, Ganesh Nagar, Basti Nau, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 002, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-253103 Fax: +(91)-(181)-254557

D. C. M. Sports IndustriesAddress: 82, F. C. I. Colony, Near G.T. B. Nagar, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 003, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2270268 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2270268


Hans Raj Mahajan and SonsAddress: G.T. Road, Suranussi, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 027, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2670701/2671549/2671262/2671263/2672077 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2670702/2402507Website: http://www.hansraj-india.com/

Sports Syndicate, Training AidsAddress: Basti Road, Jalandhar, Punjab - 144 001, IndiaPhone: +(91)-(181)-2650347/2650716/2650795/3090992/320200 Fax: +(91)-(181)-2651412/5081709Website: http://www.indiamart.com/sstrainingaids


L-6, Kalkaji, New Delhi-110 019 India Ph.: 91 11 26224899, 26475481 Fax: 91 11 26236818 Email: [email protected] Website: www.bba.org.in

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